New Delhi: The Special Investigation Team (SIT), set up by the Supreme Court to probe the black money issue, will investigate Yadav Singh, a government employee who has diamonds worth Rs. 100 crore, two kilos of gold, crores in cash and 20 properties to his name.
The SIT has directed the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) to submit report on the cash seizure from Mr Singh’s home.
Last month, a team of 120 officers of the Income Tax department raided over 20 places allegedly owned by Mr Singh. Among the discoveries made by officials, perhaps the most important find is a diary with coded entries, believed to be a record of illegal dealings involving other bureaucrats, industrialists and politicians.
Mr Singh was Chief Engineer for mega government agencies in charge of managing multi-lane freeways and expanding and developing the area around them in this part of Uttar Pradesh, just across the border from Delhi.
In 1995, he was well-connected enough to land a major promotion to Project Manager, though he lacked a basic qualification – an engineering degree. An exception was made by officials in charge – an order allowed him three years to complete the degree. Officials have since refused to comment on whether that ever happened. The issue was highlighted by another engineer who filed a formal complaint pointing out that Mr Singh had been unfairly promoted over him.
In 2012, Mr Singh was removed as Chief Engineer for allegedly involved in scamming the government of nearly 900 crores – a swindle allegedly executed while Mayawati was Chief Minister, but he was reinstated by the administration of Akhilesh Yadav in 2013.
